Gymnasium apparatus.



A. J. THORNLEY.

emmsmm APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 26, 1912.

Patented June 3, 1913.

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ALBERT J. THORNLEY, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO NARRAGAN- SETT MACHINE COMPANY, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

GYMNASIUM APPARATUS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. Trionrrmv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtuclret, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gymnasium Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gymnasium apparatus, and pertains more particularly to the caster mechanism of a vaulting horse buck or similar device.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for effecting engagement of the casters with the floor to permit of the device being moved from one place to another in the gymnasium, which means is capable of foot operation and is of simple and eihcient character for the purpose intended.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the base of a vaulting horse buck, showing the parts in normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the parts in another position, in which the casters are engaged with the floor, ready to permit the device to be moved from one place to another. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1- is a section taken on the line 4r-4; of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the base of the horse buck, in which the raising mechanism of the base is omitted, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lever locking dog.

The base 1 of the horse or buck is formed hollow and is provided on its interior with a vertical depending abutment 2 that is carried by or formed integral with the top of the base. The top side of the base is slotted as indicated at 3, and on each side of the slot, a guide post 4 is secured in depending relation thereto.

The caster carrier consists of a member 5- which at each end has a pair of casters 6 secured thereto. The member 5 is formed with a central depressed portion 7 and with a pair of vertical enlarged portions 8 which are bored to slidingly receive the guide posts 4:, permitting the carrier to move up and down with relation to the posts 4. The lower ends of the posts 4. have transverse pins 9 secured thereto to prevent the carrier from becoming disengaged therefrom in carrying Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 26, 1912.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Serial No. 693,393.

' the horse buck or in raising the same for purpose of transportation. The confronting sides of the enlarged portions 8 of the carrier are vertically slotted as indicated at 10 in Fig. 3, to admit a horizontal pin 11 which rests in seats 12 that are at or formed by the lower ends of the slots 10, as depicted in dotted lines in Fig. 1. A short raising lever 13 is fulcrumed on the pin 11 and is formed with a rounded end 1 1 that en.- gages the bottom end of the abutment 2, and said lever is further formed with a pair of shoulders 15 located at the front end of the lever. The lever 13 is bifurcated at its front end as indicated at 16 and the shoulders 15 thereof are located on opposite sides of the bifurcation. A second lever 17 of greater length than the lever 13 is fulcrumed on the pin 11 and has its inner end located within the bifurcation 16 of the lever 13. The outer end of the lever 17 operates within the slot 3 of the base 1, and has a roughened foot engaging member 18 removably secured thereto. 1 locking dog 19 which is bifurcated at 20, is received over the outer end of the long lever 17 and is pivoted to the latter by means of a pin 21. The outer end of the dog 19 has a roughened foot engaging member 20, and its opposite end is formed with a shoulder 22. The front face of the base 1 at each side of the slot 3 thereof is formed with enlarged sockets 23 the upper ends of which terminate in abutments 24c. that are for engagement with the shoulder 22 of the locking dog 19. On each side of the lever 17 a lug 25 is formed, the lower ends of which are for engagement with the shoulders 15 of the short or raising lever 13.

In normal position of the device, the parts occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When it is desired to cause the casters to engage with the floor, the lever 17 is swung outwardly to bring the lugs 25 thereof into engagement with the shoulders 15 of the lever 13, and upon continued depression of the lever 17 the end 14 of the lever 13 will engage the abutment 2 and the front end of lever 13 will engage the top face of depression 7 to effect raising of the base 1 as depicted in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When the lever 17 occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the locking dog 19 is swung inwardly to cause the shoulder 22 thereof to engage the abutments 2 1 formed on the base 1, whereby the lever 17 and the lever 13 will be held locked against movement, allowing of the horse or buck to be moved about as desired. To restore the parts to normal position, the lever 17 is first slightly depressed to enable the dog 19 to be disengaged from the abutments 24, after which the dog is swung outwardly, and the parts then moved to the position shown in Big. 1.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination with a base having a depending abutment and a slotted portion, a pair of depending guide posts carried by the base, a caster carrier slidingly mounted on said posts, a horizontal pin carried by the carrier, a short lever mounted on the pin having its rearend disposed for engagement with the lower end of the abutment and having a pair of shoulders at its front end, the front end of said lever being bifurcated, a long lever mounted on said pin and disposed at its rear end in the bifurcation of the short lever, a lug on each side of the long lever to engage the shoulders of the short lever, the free end of the long lever extending through the slot of the base, said slot of the base being formed to provide abutments, and a. dog pivoted to the long lever and having a shoulder to engage said abutments of the base to hold the part in locked position.

2. The combination with a base and a vertically slidable caster carrier connected thereto, lever mechanism pivotally carried by the carrier for engagement with the base and the carrier to raise the base by engagement with the latter and with the carrier.

3. In combination with a base and a vertically slidable caster carrier connected thereto, lever mechanism carried by the carrier for engagement with the same and with the base to effect raising of the base by de pression of the lever mechanism.

4. In combination with a base and a vertically slidable carrier connected thereto, lever mechanism carried by the carrier for engagement with the same and with the base to effect raising of the base by depression of the lever mechanism, and means to lock the lever mechanism against movement when same is in operative position.

'5. In combination with a base and a caster carrier movably connected thereto, a lever engageable between the under side of the base and the top of the carrier, and a second lever for depressing the first lever.

6. In combination with a base and a caster carrier movably connected thereto, a lever engaged between the under side of the base and the top of the carrier to raise the base by bearing on the carrier, and means to operate said lever.

7. In combination with a base and a caster carrier movably connected thereto, a lever engageable between the base and carrier to raise the base by bearing on the carrier, means to operate the lever, and means carried by the last named means to lock the same to hold the base in raised position.

8. In combination with a base and a caster carri r movably connected thereto, pivoted means to effect raising of the base by engaging beneath the same and on top of the carrier.

9. In combination with a base and a caster carriei mo "ably connected thereto, foot operated means to raise the base. said means being disposed in part between the under side of the base and the top of the carrier.

10. In combination with a base and a caster carrier movably connected thereto, depressible means to raise the base, and. a dog carried by said means to engage the base to hold said means in depressed position.

11. In combination with a base and a caster carrier movably connected thereto, a lever engage-able between the under side of the base and the top of the carrier to raise the base relative to the carrier, and pivoted means to depress said lever to raise the base, said means being vertically movable to rest against the base when in inoperative position.

12. In combination with a. base and a caster carrier movably connected thereto, an element pivoted between its ends and having one end engaging under the base and its other end engaging on top of the carrier, and means whereby one end. of said element may be depressed to bear against the top of the carrier to thereby raise the other end and ele ate the base.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT J. THORNLEY.

Witnesses ADA E. I-IAeER'rY, J. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). G. 

